Network Interviews

Starz's managing director Carmi Zlotnik talks about betting big on pirate drama "Black Sails," the two essential elements he looks for in all new series and bringing multicultural voices to the network by way of originals from 50 Cent and LeBron James.

Dave Howe, the head of Syfy and the recently launched horror channel Chiller, talks making shows people want to "live, eat and breathe," the continuing appeal of "Battlestar Galactica" and why they like to work with indie filmmakers.

National Geographic Channels president Howard T. Owens talks introducing scripted programming to a brand known for docs and nature fare, making "smartertainment" and the inherent optimism of doomsday preppers.

A&E's General Manager David McKillop explains why scripted programming is still so important to the network even when it has one of the biggest reality hits on air, and why he loved the Vera Farmiga freakout supercut.

AMC's President Charlie Collier talks about the future of the network with two of its defining series finished or coming to an end, the recent move into spin-offs, splitting up seasons and why live TV is still important.

HBO's president of programming Michael Lombardo talks "True Detective," why the network remains more focused on making series than movies, whether HBO Go will ever be available as an a la carte service and how Sunday night became the most competitive on the TV schedule.

In 1976, Showtime became one of the first cable channels to achieve national distribution. The network began producing original programming in the early '80s, but it wasn't until the arrival of "The L Word," "Weeds" and "Dexter" in the mid-2000s that it's identity really came together.